Mamdani repeats threat to detain Netanyahu in NYC

Zohran Mamdani insists that enforcing an ICC warrant on Netanyahu aligns with “international law” despite the U.S. not recognizing the court’s authority.

By World Israel News Staff

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his threat to detain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city, claiming such an action would align with international law.

“I’ve said time and again that I believe this is a city of international law, and being a city of international law means looking to uphold international law,” Mamdani told local news outlet ABC 7 on Tuesday. He said that doing so “means upholding the warrants from the International Criminal Court, whether they’re for Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin.”

Mamdani, who will assume office in January, added that “we are a global city, but what New Yorkers are looking for is consistency in the way we talk about our values and follow through with them…That’s why these warrants from the International Criminal Court are worth fully exploring — every legal possibility to actually follow through on.”

However, Mamdani’s claim that complying with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant would be in line with international law is demonstrably false. The United States does not recognize the authority of the ICC, and the court has no jurisdiction on U.S. soil.

Earlier in November, New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov — a staunchly Zionist, Ukrainian-born Jew — formally invited Netanyahu to visit New York on January 1, the same day Mamdani will be sworn in as mayor.

“Despite the vile rhetoric of unashamed Marxist radicals like Mayor-elect Mamdani, your visit would serve as a powerful reminder that this city stands with Israel, the Jewish people, and with the principles that unite our two great nations,” Vernikov wrote to Netanyahu.

In a recent interview with an Australian journalist, Netanyahu said he was not concerned about Mamdani following through on his threat.

When asked directly whether he feared arrest if he visited New York, Netanyahu replied, “No. I’m not afraid.”